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Cape Town - Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer is highly impressed with the current form of Sharks loose-forward Marcell Coetzee.
Meyer was speaking at a the second four-day Springbok planning camp in Pretoria on Wednesday, where players from the Bulls and Sharks assembled this week as part of preparations before the three-Test series against England in June.
He said injuries to key players have forced him to rethink his plans for the Springbok team, after he initially stated he would pick a largely experienced line-up for the England series.
“I must say when I started the team that I thought probably would start - and I've said I would give everyone a fair chance - has changed a lot,” Meyer said.
“Like I said, I thought it would be an experienced side just to get us going and get the continuity because the guys know a lot of the stuff and lead the youngsters.
“But it's changed a lot and I think we'll go for a younger team than I expected to go with," Meyer told SAPA.
He was reluctant to mention names, but according to Beeld, did single out Coetzee.
"We have an abundance of quality loose forwards, but I'm very impressed with his (Coetzee's) form thus far for the Sharks.
"There are brilliant young players putting their hands up, so it won't be a problem for me to pick more of them for the Bok team," said Meyer.
The 20-year-old Coetzee has quickly climbed the ladder at the Sharks over the last two seasons.
He played for the Sharks' Under-19 team in 2010, their Vodacom Cup, Under-21 and Currie Cup teams in 2011, before making his Super Rugby debut this year.
Meyer was speaking at a the second four-day Springbok planning camp in Pretoria on Wednesday, where players from the Bulls and Sharks assembled this week as part of preparations before the three-Test series against England in June.
He said injuries to key players have forced him to rethink his plans for the Springbok team, after he initially stated he would pick a largely experienced line-up for the England series.
“I must say when I started the team that I thought probably would start - and I've said I would give everyone a fair chance - has changed a lot,” Meyer said.
“Like I said, I thought it would be an experienced side just to get us going and get the continuity because the guys know a lot of the stuff and lead the youngsters.
“But it's changed a lot and I think we'll go for a younger team than I expected to go with," Meyer told SAPA.
He was reluctant to mention names, but according to Beeld, did single out Coetzee.
"We have an abundance of quality loose forwards, but I'm very impressed with his (Coetzee's) form thus far for the Sharks.
"There are brilliant young players putting their hands up, so it won't be a problem for me to pick more of them for the Bok team," said Meyer.
The 20-year-old Coetzee has quickly climbed the ladder at the Sharks over the last two seasons.
He played for the Sharks' Under-19 team in 2010, their Vodacom Cup, Under-21 and Currie Cup teams in 2011, before making his Super Rugby debut this year.
